Story: Emily Nelson
Photography: Tim Schoon
Published: May 7, 2025
Genevieve Martinez was 10 when she developed rheumatic fever, a rare autoimmune disease that can be caused by a strep throat infection.
The two-week stay in a hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, inspired a future profession in health care.
“I was amazed by how different health care individuals came together to support patient-centered care,” says Martinez, who grew up in Atlantic, Iowa. “I realized I wanted to be part of something like that, to be part of something bigger. And I especially wanted to advocate for issues in underserved communities, like the rural area where I came from.”
One group of health care professionals made an especially big impression on Martinez.
“Being a patient, especially in a big hospital, reinforced the belief of nurses being first at the site to care for the patient, to be hands on, to develop patient relationships,” Martinez says. “The nurses were the ones who helped me in the middle of the night to use the restroom. They were there when I was wondering where Mom and Dad were — they couldn’t afford to drive all the way up here all the time. Having that support, especially at the frequency that I had, was so powerful. I wanted to be part of that.”
Martinez will graduate this month with a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Iowa, where she spent the past year serving as president of the Student Nurse Association.
She said choosing to go to Iowa was easy.
“I knew the university, and especially the College of Nursing, was absolutely incredible,” Martinez says. “I think that the training and the education we receive here is unmatched. I don’t think I could get that anywhere else: a No. 4-ranked nursing university that I have dreamed of going to since I was a little girl. The proximity, the affordability, the support of the staff, the mentorship is all unmatched.”
Genevieve Martinez
Hometown: Atlantic, Iowa
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
What’s next: Working as an emergency room nurse and pursuing the University of Iowa’s Doctor of Nursing Practice dual program in Family and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track.
What are some of your earliest memories on campus?
Going to Kinnick Stadium was super exciting. I had wanted to be in that stadium ever since I was a little girl. I grew up seeing it on TV, so finally being there and seeing where 70,000 people sit in this ginormous stadium was so cool. Hearing the roar of the fans and seeing the support for my dream school that I always wanted to get into, especially the College of Nursing, was life-changing.
What was your most memorable experience?
Participating in a Community and Public Health Nursing Practicum in Eswatini, Africa. I had the opportunity with about 12 other nursing students and my professors to help oversee the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment processes for patients in mostly rural Africa. We were able to witness how resilient impoverished communities are and how they come together to help one another, especially when it comes to severe complex medical diagnoses like cervical cancer, HIV, AIDS, and tuberculosis — some things we don't see as frequently in the United States. Being part of the support staff and learning how different communities interact was so incredible. I don’t think that another program outside of the University of Iowa could offer me that opportunity, especially with the mentorship I received. Seeing the difficult and challenging circumstances that some of the patients struggled with was so eye opening. Having that experience under my belt, making those relationships, truly inspired me to return home and be the best nurse I can be.
What surprised you the most about the University of Iowa?
I remember being nervous and overwhelmed as a freshman coming from a place of 7,000 people to more than 30,000 people. I was surprised that I felt so welcomed and a sense of belonging as soon as I got here. I felt as though the friendships I developed and the mentors that taught me throughout my experience here in Iowa has been absolutely life-changing. And I wouldn’t have traded it for anything else.
What is one of the most valuable things you learned?
One of the most valuable things I’ve learned, especially throughout community and public health nursing practicum, is the power of empathy. The power of therapeutic communication and active listening that I learned in my psychiatric mental health courses here as well. I was so blessed to have the practice of reinforcing that education at our psychiatric units here at the hospital and bringing that to the community. I’m so thankful for my professors, especially Kimberly Nuxoll, Anita Nicholson, and Frankie Kuehnle, who taught me some of the most powerful ways of active listening.
What did you get out of your Iowa experience that you don’t feel you would have gotten elsewhere?
The relationships I have acquired with my professors throughout my experience have been so impactful. I appreciate how accessible my professors are, especially when I’ve had questions, or when I’ve had doubts, and when I was so excited to venture out into a new area or new opportunity. This community truly reinforces developing deep interpersonal relationships with my mentors, who I’m so thankful to call my mentors. It’s an unmatched experience, and I don’t know that I could get that anywhere else other than the University of Iowa College of Nursing. I’m so thankful for all they’ve done for me.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
I want to say thank you to my mom and my dad, and my brothers for always being there for me. Having those phone calls, having that support system was so important. Thank you for bringing so much laughter and support and genuine advice to this process. It has been such an amazing journey.